Oscillatory mechanism



(No Model.) 2 ShetsSheet 2. J.- J. REAGAN. OSGILLATORY MECHANISM.

No. 593,310. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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W v W gvwewtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. REAGAN, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

OSCILLATORY MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,310, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed May 10,1897. Serial No. 635,805- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. REAGAN, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oscillatory Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to oscillatory mechanisms for operating switches, signals, &c., and has for its object the provision of a mechanism whose oscillatory movement is effected by a lever or other device projecting from the car or locomotive, which movement of the mechanism may be utilized for throwing switches, operating signals, 'or for any other purpose where a lateral oscillating movement is required.

The invention also consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my mechanism with the top removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the segment when the switch has been opened. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the top plate, the bottom plate, and the operating mechanism, showing the lever from a car in position for operating the device. Fig. 4 is a section of the device taken at right angles to Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detached view of the shifting plate and segment, showing the bearings applied to the same.

In the drawings, 1 represents the bottom plate, which may be of iron and cast in one piece, which is provided with the central recess 2 and the side recesses 3; Raised from the central recess 2 are the tracks 4, upon which the shifting plate 5 is adapted to move. These tracks may be dispensed with, if desired, without materially affecting my invention.

Extending at right angles to the recesses 3 and in line with the tracks 4 are the recesses 6, in which the arms 7 of the shifting plate are adapted to slide. These arms 7 are constructed as illustrated in Fig. 1 when the device is positioned upon the surface of the ground, and when the device is to be positioned below the surface the arms or arm (as the case may be) are provided with the upwardly-extending portions 8, which project through slots in the top plate and are adapted to receive the switch to be operated, as will be readily understood. The bottom plate is provided with the drain 9, by means of which water may be drawn ofi and prevented from accumulating in the recess 2.

The shifting plate is formed with the crossslots 10, which form, substantially, two Vs joined at their points, with the central portion of one V removed to form the recess 11, as illustrated. Pivoted in this recess 11 is the operating-segment 12, which is V-shaped at one end and at its opposite end provided with the depending lugs 13. Pivoted adjacent the extended end of this operating-segment is the notched lever or dog 14, which is kept normally in engagement with the segment by the spring 15, which presses against its forward end.

The top or cover 16 has the slot 17, which is just above the shifting plate and extends at right angles to the movement of said plate at the rear end of said slot in the inclined way 18 for the purpose presently to be stated. This top is perforated, so that water may pass through it into the sink or drain, and is provided on its under side with the lugs 19, which take the recesses 6 of the bottom plate above the operating-arms of the shifting plate.

The dog or lever and the segment are positioned in suitable recesses formed in the bottom plate, as will appear from Fig. 1.

For operating the shifting plate a lever 20 may be provided upon the front platform of the car, which may be retained in a normallyraised position by a spring 21, as will be understood. This lever is provided with a footpiece 22, whereby the same may be depressed into the slot in the top plate and engage the shifting plate when it is desired to operate the switch.

I show a' modification, or rather an addition, to the shifting plate and its segment, consisting in bearings in the shape of small wheels, which reduces friction and efiects an easy movement of the mechanism. This is not essential or even necessary, and the omission of the same would not effect my invention materially.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the car approaches the switch, the operating-lever is depressed by the foot of the motorman into the slot on the top plate and into engagement with one of the grooves of the shifting plate. As the car moves forward the shifting plate is removed in one direction and the operating-lever passes out and up the incline at the end of the slot, which will inform the motorman that the lever has reached the end of the slot, so that he may release the same. The movement of the shifting plate has operated the segment so that the plate and segment are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, ready for a reverse movement by the wheels of the car approaching in the opposite direction on the main track or to be operated by the operating-lever of a car approaching on the main track in the same direction as the preceding car, but which wishes to continue on the main track. Thus the device can be operated either to close or open the switch by a car upon the main track. It will be understood that the segment moves backward and forth, closing one or the other of the grooves of the shifting plate and keeping the plate always positioned for movement in the proper direction. The notches in the lever or dog confine the segment in its proper position.

I provide the depending lug on the end of the segment, so that the dog and its operatingspring may be below the surface of the shifting plate and out of the way of the depending operating-lever. It will be understood that the shifting plate may be provided with only one arm instead of two arms, as illustrated, and those arms may be used to operate a switch or signal in the most effective manner.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a very simple mechanism for producing an oscillating movement, which may be utilized for any purpose on street-railways or steam-lines-as, for instance, shifting switches or operating signals.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a recessed baseplate, a shifting plate movable in said recess, said shifting plate provided with V-shaped grooves, a leveror segment pivoted to the shifting plate and controlling the grooves, a dog or lever pivoted to the base-plate and engaging the segment, and a means carried by a car engaging the grooves of the shifting plate and efiecting the movement of the plate and segment, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a base-plate having a recess formed therein, tracks in said recess, ashiftin g plate movable upon said tracks, the

shifting plate provided with V-shaped grooves connected at their points,the centralportion of one of said Vs removed, a V-shaped segment pivoted in the V-shaped recess, opening or closing communication between the grooves, a notched lever engaging the opposite end of the segment, a spring for holding the notched lever in engagement with the segment, and a means carried by a car for engaging the grooves of the shifting plate and operating the same and the segment, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of a base-plate provided with a recess, a shifting plate movable in said recess, an operating-arm carried by the shifting plate, the said shifting plate provided with a V-shaped groove and a V-shaped recess communicating with each other, a V-shaped segment or lever pivoted in the V-shaped recess and adapted to open and close communication between the said recess and the V- shaped groove, a depending lug on the opposite end of the lever, a notched lever engaging the depending lug, a spring for holding the notched lever in engagement with the segment, a cover for the base-plate provided with a slot extending transverse the movement of the shifting plate, and a lever carried by a car adapted to be depressed and extend into the slot of the top plate and engage the grooves of the shifting plate for oscillating the same and moving the segment, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of a base-plate provided with a recess, a shifting plate movable in said recess, a drain for said plate, operating-arms carried by the shifting plate, the shifting plate provided with a V-shaped segment and a V- shaped recess communicating with each other, a segment pivoted in the V-shaped recess and adapted to alternately open and close communication between the recess and one of the grooves of the V, a notched lever engaging the opposite end of the segment and effecting its movement, a top plate provided with the slot extending transverse the line of the movement of the shifting plate, inclines at the ends of said slot, and an operating-lever carried i by a car adapted to be depressed into the slot and engage one of the grooves of the shifting plate for operating the shifting plate and the segment, the said lever adapted to mount the incline when the end of the groove is reached, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. REAGAN. WVitnesses:

MARY MoGowAN, HENRY F. CAssIN. 

